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The Protector --Merline Lovelace Coming November, 2009
Silhouette Nocturne
Book Four Time Raider Series
Two Time Raiders in the guise of a Viking warrior and a captive Irish slave travel back to a time of intrigue and silken sensuality as they race to find the fourth fragment of a medallion that will bring Earth one step closer to freedom.
Max Brody's body tingles with danger when he meets Cassandra Jones, the mission specialist with whom he'll jump back to seventh century China. Petite and guarded, Cassie may look like someone who needs protection, but her essence whispers to him of untamed talents that could destroy as easily as seduce. Yet Cassie's powers and passion, if properly awakened, might be their only safeguard. For amid the splendor and intrigue of the Imperial Court of Empress Wu Jao, they will confront a formidable enemy -- and an unstoppable force of nature that's beyond their control....
Merline Lovelace talks about her inspirational historical female figure, Empress Wu Jao below.
Inspiration
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Merline Lovelace & THE PROTECTOR
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Hi, Everyone -
Wow! Imagine having the chance to write about any powerful woman of any era. That was one of the most exciting aspects of the Time Raiders series for me, second only to the thrill of actually developing the series concept with my RomVets sisters-in-arms -- women I admire and respect more than I can say.
We had so many incredible queens and empresses and female warriors to chose from. After much deliberation I finally settled on the only woman to rule the vast Chinese Empire in her own right. I'm sure that choice was conditioned by the fact that I'd been stationed in Taiwan as a young Air Force lieutenant. And married my sexy AF husband there. And honeymooned in Hong Kong. And recently returned from an exciting and very romantic sojourn with my darling hubby in Beijing. (See why I have a soft spot in my heart for all things Chinese?) |
That's why I chose beautiful, talented, devious Wu Jao as the historical figure for The Protector. She was brought to the court of the first Tang Dynasty emperor as a nubile young virgin. Her sensual beauty and artistic ability moved her right up the ranks of royal concubines, and her brilliant mind soon made her the power behind the throne. In the process, she enthralled both her husband and his eldest son. So much so that when her husband died, his son made her his concubine, then empress. But not before she reportedly had his first empress and chief concubine executed!
So you can imagine what fun I had sending my Time Raider heroine back to this fascinating, dangerous time. It was even more fun sending her back in the guise of a Irish seer captured in a Viking raid and sent to the powerful, superstitious Wu Jao as a gift -- delivered in chains by a "protector" who mistrusts her as much as he desires her!
Throw in some evil Centauri determined to stop the Time Raiders at all costs, the mother of all earthquakes, an accidentally discovered tomb full of unimaginable riches... Well, all I can say is hold on for one heck of a roller coaster ride through time and space!!! |
